tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62513952635668490982019-05-22T18:17:32.308-04:00CareShare NetworkEverything HealthCareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-84771500275000843982015-05-03T12:22:00.001-04:002015-05-03T14:50:03.811-04:00Uterine Fibroids: Today's Hidden EpidemicFor a condition that affects 80% of black women and 70% of white women causing symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, fertility problems, difficult pregnancies, anemia, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, painful intercourse, lower back pain, and abdominal distension, uterine fibroids do not receive the attention they deserve.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wQmZO4mpCI/VUYuLqnbeoI/AAAAAAAAAG4/tIcvdiMS4lQ/s1600/sick-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wQmZO4mpCI/VUYuLqnbeoI/AAAAAAAAAG4/tIcvdiMS4lQ/s1600/sick-woman.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Shutterstock</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />These benign tumors that form throughout the uterus, believed to thrive off estrogen, occur post puberty and most often after age 30. Because they range in size, fibroids can be as small as microscopic specks or as big as melons weighing next to nothing or tens in pounds. At their most aggressive, they invade a woman's uterus, growing in or outside its walls, under the interior surface, or as exterior stalks and bases.<br /><br />Many women live with them without discomfort because they do not grow large, but at their worst, aggressive fibroids result in gynecologists presenting to sufferers options that include medication; myomectomy, surgical excision of the growths alone that preserves fertility by leaving the uterine intact; or hysterectomy, removal of the uterus, which eliminates further possibilities of childbearing.<br /><br />Besides the physical discomforts and complications fibroids impose on women's lives, they also take a heavy economic toll on the US economy. A recent <a href="http://www.essence.com/2015/03/17/cynthia-baileys-public-fight-fibroids-important-white-dress-project-founder-tanika-gray/" target="_blank"><i>Essence Magazine</i></a> article claims they cost $34 billion annually in productivity loss, medical treatments, and pregnancy complications.<br /><br />According to the National Institutes of Health, "Research shows that over 90% of women who are newly diagnosed with fibroids will seek medical or surgical treatment for the condition within a year of the diagnosis. In 2000, more than 250,000 hospital admissions were related to uterine fibroids. Every year, fibroids lead to more than 200,000 hysterectomies."<sup style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"></sup><br /><br />So if fibroids affect so many women requiring them to endure major surgeries with at-times extended recuperation periods, why don't we hear more about them? In the <i>Essence Magazine</i> article mentioned above, there is focus on the White Dress Project founded by Tanika Gray Valbrun, who hopes to elevate the discussion on fibroids to federal and global levels as a crucial women's reproductive issue.<br /><br />"There are so many women suffering with this epidemic. Rarely can you bring up the topic and a woman not have some familiarity with the issue--whether it's her mother, aunt, sister, or she suffers with it personally. I believe it's time for our government, influencers and policy makers to speak about this issue and allocate the funding needed to enhance research, educate more women on their options and find a cure," Valbrun says.<br /><br />This writer agrees. There needs to be more education on fibroids for all women so they recognize the symptoms and take early steps to prevent or abolish them from their wombs. &nbsp;As women, their loved ones, and allies become more aware, they will develop the coalitions that advocate for policy change targeting the specific needs of the affected. CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-23952195161424248252014-10-30T09:41:00.001-04:002015-05-03T14:45:59.822-04:00Commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Honoring Survivors<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TFc9s2S0c-Q/VFI_xWZbHtI/AAAAAAAAAD8/8LaH9eQ288g/s1600/breast%2Bcancer%2Bawareness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TFc9s2S0c-Q/VFI_xWZbHtI/AAAAAAAAAD8/8LaH9eQ288g/s1600/breast%2Bcancer%2Bawareness.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">During a special breakfast on October 24, NHC recognized the tremendous obstacles surmounted by the breast cancer survivors among its patient population. Linda Grace, Nadine Jamison and Esther Perry quietly shared their stories of survival that began this year for Grace and six years ago respectively for Jamison and Perry. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For Grace, she was laying in bed when she felt an abnormal growth. She took her concerns to Cindy Lauer, nurse practitioner and director of HSNHC's Women's Health Program, whom referred her to specialized care. Her treatment plan included a partial mastectomy, lump removals from her breasts, followed by eight weeks of chemotherapy and then eight weeks of radiation. "They say I'm cancer free. My mammogram was negative. &nbsp;That's where I'm at. &nbsp;I'm getting my appetite&nbsp;back and getting into myself again."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jamison is a two-time survivor, receiving her diagnoses in 1994 and 2004. &nbsp;In 1994, her treatment consisted of six weeks of radiation. &nbsp;When her cancer returned in 2004, oncologists discovered a small mass the size of a tiny pinhead in one of the mammograms performed on her every six months since her first diagnosis. Her treatment plan continued over four years during her second care cycle. &nbsp;Ultimately, she and her providers opted for full mastectomies, the removal of all breast tissue, in 2008.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As a 30-year veteran-HSNHC patient, Perry had been going for yearly mammograms since the early 80's. &nbsp;At one of these mammography screenings, a lump was found in her breast, and thus began her journey to regain her health. Her story is very similar to that of her counterparts', with tough decisions about partial or full mastectomies made by her and her care team. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Once the survivors had taken the time to talk and help themselves to the fare offered at the event, Dr. Peter Johnson, medical director, welcomed them.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414676015995_2102" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414676015995_2101" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I want to salute your strength and your life," Dr. Johnson said, before launching into a conversation with the ladies about how to increase the number of women in the community screened for breast cancer with mammograms. "How can we get other women to come in for their screening when they should? &nbsp;Early detection leads to better outcomes," he said. &nbsp;As answer, Jamison narrated the story of a family member whom resisted screenings for years believing "I'm okay if I say I'm okay." &nbsp;</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414676015995_2100" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414676015995_2098" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1414676015995_2099" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Fellow survivor Grace said, "There should be more public service announcements stressing the importance of mammograms." &nbsp;Dr. Johnson offered for the ladies to continue their brainstorming through the formation of a survivor's group, which will engage in advocacy that encourages others into early detection. It is recommended that women age 40 and older have a mammogram every year.</span></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This article was written for a health center's newsletter. &nbsp;Patient names changed to protect their identity.</i></span></div></div>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-79639791828806356012013-11-21T13:25:00.001-05:002015-05-03T14:50:36.880-04:00Scrapping Obamacare's Healthcare.gov for Medicare.gov<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FYJNxVg83DY/Uo4oKj9bI7I/AAAAAAAAADk/dWvEK--jDf8/s1600/HT_healthcare_website_jef_131107_16x9_608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FYJNxVg83DY/Uo4oKj9bI7I/AAAAAAAAADk/dWvEK--jDf8/s320/HT_healthcare_website_jef_131107_16x9_608.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>The problems plaguing HealthCare.gov saturate the news cycle as one story after another documents the difficulties uninsured Americans are encountering as they attempt to sign up for health insurance coverage on the online federal exchange. &nbsp;The question that comes to mind as I hear the stories about low sign-up rates due to glitches on the exchange is why wasn't HealthCare.gov built in the image of medicare.gov? <br /><br /><div>We are currently in Medicare's open enrollment period, October 15th to December 7, and I have been working with beneficiaries to sign them up or review their current plan options through medicare.gov, Medicare's official website. &nbsp;The website works seamlessly as I research its databases to find available plans; review costs and benefits; screen beneficiaries for Extra Help or Prescription Advantage, the federal and state federal assistance programs that help low-income and low-asset beneficiaries with Medicare Part D drug plan costs; and provide enrollment assistance.<br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oQTiGKSuFRo/Uo4lubMEnfI/AAAAAAAAADY/7GqWpvsgxiU/s1600/obaMAcare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oQTiGKSuFRo/Uo4lubMEnfI/AAAAAAAAADY/7GqWpvsgxiU/s320/obaMAcare.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></a></div>There's never a time that the system freezes or crashes on me. Searches can be very specific or general, either linked to a Medicare ID number or zip code. &nbsp;So if using medicare.gov is so easy, what happened with HealthCare.gov? &nbsp;If the medicare.gov system has quietly cranked out the right information for users without significant obstacles, why wasn't healthcare.gov created using the same techies and blueprint?</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that I've cleared these observations and questions from my mind, I leave you with a few tips about the Medicare open enrollment period:</div><div><ul><li>All new enrollments take effect on January 1st.&nbsp;</li><li>Beneficiaries who elect not to change their plans are automatically re-enrolled into their 2013 plans for 2014.</li><li>Carefully read the fine print about plans because of possible changes in premiums, co-pays, medication formularies or contract terminations.&nbsp;</li><li>Ask about Extra Help and Prescription Advantage for co-pay, deductible and premium assistance with Part D.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>Keep an eye out for the next entry, which will outline Medicare Part D drug plans' four phases of coverage. Stay tuned.<br /><br /><i>What's your take on this entry? &nbsp;Leave a comment or use the contact form at the bottom of the blog to request more individualized answers on Medicare, healthcare.gov and open enrollment.&nbsp;</i></div>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com85tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-76844107261826024522013-10-29T12:48:00.000-04:002015-05-03T14:50:54.031-04:00Vermont Moves Ahead With Plans for Universal Healthcare System as Nation Implements Obamacare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI4d4PAstZU/Um_judGg3cI/AAAAAAAAADI/zaO4oj7Ke64/s1600/BVSI-vermont-biking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI4d4PAstZU/Um_judGg3cI/AAAAAAAAADI/zaO4oj7Ke64/s1600/BVSI-vermont-biking.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div><br />In 2017, Vermont is expected to launch Green Mountain Care (GMC), its mostly payroll-tax financed, single-payer healthcare system,&nbsp;in which&nbsp;the state&nbsp;instead of private insurers will&nbsp;cover healthcare costs. <a href="http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/2013/10/26/health-marketplaces-open-eyes-bigger-goal/Q8EttkkebYBxzTHezTeyVO/story.html" target="_blank">Providers will&nbsp;be allocated&nbsp;a set budget for a set number of patients</a>,&nbsp;as the state&nbsp;phases out the current fee for service system that reimburses providers&nbsp;for each task they perform.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />GMC will serve as a secondary insurance for residents employed by the federal government, self-insuring employers and out-of-state-employers. &nbsp;For everyone else, GMC will either be their primary insurance or a supplement to an existing system such as Medicare or Veterans health benefits. Private insurers will be eliminated once the state begins processing all administrative bills generated under GMC.<br /><br />Currently, 4% of&nbsp;Vermont's children&nbsp;and 7% of its adult population are uninsured. The state has the second lowest number of uninsured individuals in the nation behind Massachusetts. Today, it&nbsp;operates under&nbsp;Affordable Care Act&nbsp;rules but will receive a waiver from the federal government in 2017 to operate GMC. <br /><br />How will Vermont fare without private insur<span style="font-family: inherit;">ers in the pi</span>cture? What do you say?CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-4151743899598368322013-08-15T06:59:00.000-04:002015-05-03T15:09:44.321-04:00Finally! A Resource for Evaluating Nursing Home Care<br /><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">There are 1.5 million people in nursing homes throughout the nation, and the population is expected to grow by 40% over the next decade. &nbsp;</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="214" src="https://www.auroragov.org/cs/groups/public/documents/digitalmedia/008642.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: auroragov.org</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those seeking a tool that&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57597944/eleven-states-get-failing-grades-for-nursing-home-care/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">assesses</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the state of these facilities as they or their relatives consider entering one, there's a guide in Families for Better Care's recent report that evaluates each state's care delivery.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Organized as a report card, the document assigns a letter grade to each state. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Topping the report's list with A's are Alaska, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Oregon, Maine, Utah, Idaho, South Dakato and North Dakota. Earning F's are&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Michigan, Nevada, Illinois and Iowa.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Of special note in the report are these <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/NHRC_News_Release_MAP.pdf" target="_blank">findings</a>:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">More professional nursing staff are needed — Only seven states provided more than&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">one hour of professional nursing care per resident per day.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">An abundant lack of staffing — 96 percent of states offered residents fewer than three&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">hours of direct resident care per day.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Numerous violations — Regulators cited 90 percent of nursing homes one or more&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">deficiencies.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Widespread abuse and neglect — One in five </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">nursing homes abused, neglected or&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">mistreated residents in almost half of all states.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The entire report is available <a href="http://nursinghomereportcards.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. &nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-25797985676448035802013-08-07T07:13:00.000-04:002015-05-03T15:02:42.347-04:00Nigeria Debates Child Marriage as Swaziland Ties Ban on Practice to Health, Fight Against HIV<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately, there has been a flurry of activities on the issue of child marriage in various parts of the world, including Africa.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://zimbabwegke2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/child_bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://zimbabwegke2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/child_bride.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July, the Nigerian legislature attempted but failed to repeal a provision in its constitution that allows child marriage. Sen. Ahmed Yerima, who married a 13-year-old Egyptian child in 2010 at age 49 after paying a $100,000 dowry, successfully foiled the repeal by framing it as an attack on Islam. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile in Swaziland, a soccer player was arrested for violating the country's 2012 Child Protection and Welfare Act, which banned marriages between young women under age 18 and adult men. Violators face an R20,000 ($2,000) fine, statutory rape charges, the marriage's annulment and up to 20 years imprisonment. Colluding parents face similar charges. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <a name='more'></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to UNICEF, 70 million of women age 20-24 were married before age 18, with 20 million within this group marrying before age 15. The ramifications of early marriage on girls are extensive: Yearly, 50,000 young mothers die during child birth or from related causes. Children who marry early cope with severe psychological and social damage. Eventually, they give up school altogether to tend to household duties.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the heart of the Swazi law was another concern: curbing the country's HIV transmission rate, the world's highest. &nbsp;</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.59375px;">“The longer young women put off childbirth, the more likely they are to stay in school and, of course, avoid HIV,” said Sophia Mukasa Monico, country representative for UNAIDS.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.59375px;">&nbsp;</span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.59375px;">“Such practices spread AIDS and contribute to Swaziland having the highest HIV prevalence in the world. It’s unfortunate that AIDS activists appear to be ‘anti-culture’ because, as Swazis, we love our culture. But some practices need reforming, and this seems impossible to do,” said Sylvia Dube, director of an AIDS testing and counselling centre.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.59375px;">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both Nigeria and Swaziland are coping with the laws on their books differently. &nbsp;Many from Nigerian civil society have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chika-oduah/child-marriage-nigeria_b_3668967.html" target="_blank">mobilized</a> for the law's repeal with a worldwide petition and through grassroots organizing. Swaziland with its strong law on the books grapples with enforcement as traditional rulers become more aware of the law, seemingly at <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/97360/in-swaziland-child-marriage-still-a-grey-area" target="_blank">odds</a> with some of its cultural implications. &nbsp;</span></div>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-86130535431036132142013-03-17T23:39:00.000-04:002015-05-03T15:08:00.630-04:00Partnership Between Chronically Ill Patients and Their Providers the Way of the Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4LeLyEE9b8/VUZwb45YH0I/AAAAAAAAAH0/Hmk_S_xLE6E/s1600/Partnership%2BBetween%2BDoctors%2Band%2BPatients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4LeLyEE9b8/VUZwb45YH0I/AAAAAAAAAH0/Hmk_S_xLE6E/s1600/Partnership%2BBetween%2BDoctors%2Band%2BPatients.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Marshall Kettelhut, who lives with the challenge of managing a multitude of serious conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and irregular heartbeat — as well as bouts of anxiety and depression, frequently gets sneak peaks into how chronic diseases will be managed in the future.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span> <br /><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">As an enrollee in a special program at Seton Total Health Partners in Austin, Texas, for patients who most frequently use hospital services through the emergency room or hospitalizations, he now works closely with a team comprising of a medical staff, caseworker, dietitian and social worker to manage his conditions. &nbsp;In the six months since his enrollment in the heart-focused section of the program, he has visited the ER once and has been hospitalized once. &nbsp;His hospitalizations are down sharply from seven in 2011 &nbsp;and three in 2012 and nine ER visits in 2011 and 11 in 2012.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kettelhut’s story reflects an emerging shift in medical care from the fee-for-service model to bundled payments that reward providers for improved patient outcomes. &nbsp;It encourages the use of electronic medical records for better care coordination and increased attention on the sickest patients to curb costs. &nbsp;<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Under this system, providers receive a lump sum to manage patient care across specialties and settings instead of reimbursements for each service they deliver.</span></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read more about Marshall, the program and new approach&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/chronic-patients-get-first-glimpse-at-future-of-he/nWtRs/" href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/chronic-patients-get-first-glimpse-at-future-of-he/nWtRs/">here</a>.&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/chronic-patients-get-first-glimpse-at-future-of-he/nWtRs/" href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/chronic-patients-get-first-glimpse-at-future-of-he/nWtRs/" title="Health Care of the Patient"><br /></a></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="http://caresharenet.com" href="http://caresharenet.com/" title="CareShare Network">caresharenet.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;contact us at info@caresharenet.com to learn about our services and programs.</span></div></div>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-78299032213713685362012-06-17T15:00:00.001-04:002012-06-18T09:18:20.679-04:00‘Uninsurables’ live with the constant worry of losing their lifelineNo other group awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on the national healthcare reform law and the proposed alternatives to it more nervously than the uninsurables — individuals unable to purchase health insurance because of a medical condition prior to an application for a policy. The pre-existing conditions that have rendered them uninsurable in some instances include pregnancies, injuries, diabetes, asthma, cancer and heart problems.<br /><br />Kathy Watson, the owner of a patient transportation company in Florida, has two — an elevated blood count detected in 2003 and an incurable non-Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosed in 2009. She had gone without insurance since 2003, relying on visits to the emergency room to control her lymphoma, every request for a policy denied even through a small business plan via her self-owned company.<br /><br />When the Affordable Care Act passed, its Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) became Kathy’s lifeline by allowing her to purchase health insurance for the first time in nine years. Nationally, 27 states administer PCIP for 62,000 enrollees that meet these requirements: six months or more without health insurance, rejection by insurers because of a pre-existing condition and US citizenship or permanent residency status. The typical enrollee is middle-aged without employer provided insurance and chronically ill with cancer, heart disease, degenerative bone disease, organ failure requiring a transplant or hemophilia.<br /><br />PCIP is a temporary fix until 2014, when insurers will be required to sell policies to applicants without regard for their health history. But Kathy and other PCIP enrollees live with the worry of losing their coverage if the Supreme Court, &nbsp;in its decision expected later this month, strikes down the health insurance mandate requiring everyone to purchase health insurance. The mandate is a concession to the insurance industry for covering the chronically ill such as Kathy.<br /><br />"It’s scary," Kathy said in&nbsp;this Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/fate-uninsurables-hinges-supreme-court-181002212.html" target="_blank" title="story">article</a>&nbsp;introducing her story, the primary source of this entry. "They need to look at this carefully because it is going to affect a lot of people with a lot of bad conditions who are not going to have any health care coverage."<br /><br />Adding to her concerns is an announcement this week by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney that only individuals with a history of uninterrupted health insurance should be guaranteed coverage by private insurers. "Gov. Romney&nbsp;supports reforms to protect those with pre-existing conditions from being denied access to a health plan while they have continuous coverage," said&nbsp;his campaign&nbsp;spokeswoman Andrea Saul to <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/romney-plan-pre-existing-conditions-draws-dem-fire-100132950--abc-news-politics.html" target="_blank" title="ABC News article">ABC News</a>.<br /><br />Kathy and other chronically ill individuals qualify for PCIP <em>because</em> of lengthy breaks in their coverage. &nbsp;Their &nbsp;next alternative is high-risk health insurance pools now operating in 35 states. The pools have their own issues with limited funding, enrollment caps and waiting lists. If the Supreme Court finds the healthcare reform law unconstitutional and nixes PCIP, some states are considering them &nbsp;as the next best choice.<br /><br />These tiers of options only escalate the complexities and instability tied to health insurance coverage for individuals deemed medically uninsurable. Apprehension consume their lives as they wait on decisions that could end their coverage this month, if and when there are major shifts in national politics in the next months, in 2014 when PCIP sunsets or beyond when legislators revise the laws again. The uncertainty of looming policy changes that could all cut their lifeline compounds the&nbsp;stress of disease management.CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-15035393487591098692012-06-07T19:07:00.000-04:002012-06-09T11:23:18.878-04:00Survey asks: How good was your care?Healthcare is constantly in the news lately, but if you've been to the hospital in the past year, has anyone contacted you about your views on issues such as quality of care or costs? The stories below highlight the contributions by approximately 1000 people to NPR's Facebook page after its joint poll with the Harvard School of Public Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed Americans' self-reported experiences within the US healthcare system.<br /><br />Aimee Snyder, a 28-year-old graduate student, missed the enrollment deadline for her school's health insurance program by only one day and nearly lost her life delaying medical attention and costs. Her leg had swollen to twice its size and was turning purple. She developed shortness of breath as she postponed taking herself to the hospital for fear of the possibly massive resulting bill.<br /><br />When she finally decided to go to the emergency room to address the problems with her leg, doctors discovered that a blood clot had been the source of her discomfort, and it had dissolved into pieces in her leg. The clots were headed for her lungs and could have taken her life within hours had she not gone to the hospital. That life saving ER visit cost Aimee $15,000 that she has since struggled to pay either by borrowing from family and friends or by redirecting student loan payments for the bill.<br /><br />Andrew Dasenbrock, 32, chose to go forgo insurance coverage because he is self-employed and unable to afford the expense. He also ended up in the emergency room after suffering from severe stomach pains. Miscommunications between the two facilities (owned by the same hospital system) that provided his care resulted in charge overages for duplicate tests. Once his ordeal ended and his condition was diagnosed as a simple ailment, Andrew was in debt for thousands of dollars, still responsible for the unnecessary duplicate tests performed by the two hospitals.<br /><br />Participants had all received care from a facility within the 12 months prior to the survey's administration. Among other findings, the poll revealed that patients with ongoing, chronic medical conditions "tended to have more concerns about costs and quality than people who aren't sick." <br /><br />For more about the poll, read about the findings <a href="http://www.npr.org/documents/2012/may/poll/summary.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. Additional information about the study is also available at <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/21/153019327/poll-what-its-like-to-be-sick-in-america" target="_blank">this</a> link.<br /><br />CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-88491548587188419962012-05-23T16:57:00.001-04:002012-05-24T19:07:00.712-04:00Late-stage diagnosis galvanizes patient's advocacy for early detection<div style="text-align: center;">Colon Cancer: A Patient's Story</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Trish Simon, who received her colon cancer diagnosis after giving birth at age 32, did not fit the textbook profile of a&nbsp;colorectal&nbsp;cancer patient because of her age and lack of family history of the illness. &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In her case, cramps gave way to severe pain and then to a full hysterectomy after scans revealed masses on her ovaries. &nbsp;Further scans and tests eventually revealed that an aggressive tumor in her GI tract had metastasized from her colon to her ovaries.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Early detection through a colonoscopy could have spared Simon the stage four&nbsp;colon cancer diagnosis that has been a part of her life for the past six years. &nbsp;Today, she is an advocate for early colon cancer screenings, who has convinced fellow nurses and doctors within the Alexian Brothers Health System to donate time and equipment to screen high-risk patients. &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Simon's story almost mirrors that of&nbsp;former <i>Today Show</i> host Katie Couric who launched a campaign to encourage early screenings after her husband’s passing from colon cancer in 1998. Couric underwent a nationally televised colonoscopy in March 2000.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since then, there has been a 20% increase in the number of colonoscopies performed, and we now know these facts about the procedure and colon cancer:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">Patients are sedated throughout the process, putting to rest some fears that the procedure is painful.</li><li class="MsoNormal">Men and women are equally affected by colon cancer.</li><li class="MsoNormal">Risk of colon cancer increases with age.</li><li class="MsoNormal">Screenings should begin at age 50, unless there is a family history of colon cancer.</li><li class="MsoNormal">A balanced, high-fiber diet, consistent exercise and overall healthy lifestyle reduce risks.</li></ul><div class="MsoNormal">In spite of greater awareness, the Centers for Disease Control <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/r101124.html">reported</a> that&nbsp;colorectal cancer cases are often detected at late stage when treatment is less effective.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Read more on Trish's story&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wgntv.com/news/medicalwatch/wgntv-colon-cancer-screening-may22,0,7522126.story">here</a>.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br />CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-35899766450655481132012-05-18T19:14:00.000-04:002012-05-18T19:16:16.805-04:00Vermont on Course to Single-Payer System by 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Vermont's road to its first in the nation, single-payer system named&nbsp;Green Mountain Care&nbsp;began within four months of Gov. Peter Shumlin's transition to power in 2011. &nbsp;That&nbsp;year, the governor and legislators commissioned Harvard economist William Hsiao to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on the best healthcare options for the state. &nbsp;After analyzing many models that included fully-private systems, Hsiao recommended the single payer because of its potential 25% savings to consumers, businesses and government.<br /><br />This week, Gov. Shumlin signed into law a bill that builds another major section in Vermont's road to single payer by creating federally mandated by Obamacare healthcare exchanges, which will introduce a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase policies from private insurers as well as multi-state and state-sponsored plans. &nbsp;Uninsured &nbsp;residents meeting specific income requirements will receive federal subsidies to purchase policies. <br /><br />When Gov. Shumlin laid the first bricks in Vermont's road to a state funded and operated system, he also established a five-member board charged with setting reimbursement rates and delivering a financing plan by 2013. &nbsp;Now that the details of the exchanges are being worked out for a 2014 launch, next step for the state is another federal waiver request to operate a fully functioning single-payer system by 2017. &nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-23338252225292601222012-05-05T00:12:00.000-04:002012-05-08T17:40:17.480-04:00Preventive Care's Central Role as Massachusetts Considers Cost-Cutting ReformsIf imitation still is the sincerest form of flattery, Massachusetts received the ultimate compliment in 2010 when the federal government adopted a model of its healthcare reforms for the nation. In mid-April, the Commonwealth quietly marked the sixth anniversary of its law with&nbsp;health insurance coverage rates growing from 86.6% in 2006 to 94.2% in 2010. <br /><br />Among the statistics the <i>Washington Post</i>&nbsp;includes in a recent&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/six-ways-romneycare-changed-massachusetts/2012/04/12/gIQAUZffCT_gallery.html#photo=2" target="_blank">slideshow</a>&nbsp;on the law, the data on the accessibility of internal and family practitioners to patients raised questions on whether there needs to be greater buy-in by primary care physicians into the system. &nbsp;The number of general internists willing to accept new patients dropped from 66% in 2005 to 49% in 2011. For family doctors, the figure was 70% in 2007 and 47% in 2011.<br /><br />Perhaps the limited access to these physicians explains why the state saw minimal changes in residents' visits to the emergency room. &nbsp;The <i>Post</i> collected statistics about ER visits from two sources: &nbsp;One study in <i>Health Affairs</i> reported ER visits decreased&nbsp;by 3.5% between 2009 and 2010. &nbsp;Another by the&nbsp;University of Illinois comparing Massachusetts ER visits to that of other states found an 8% decrease. <br /><br />In many cases, primary care physicians are the healthcare system's gatekeepers. &nbsp;They funnel patients to specialists for closer attention or prescribe the medications that heal a developing condition before it becomes serious. &nbsp;Their focus is on preventive care, and they work with patients to ensure they receive appropriate screenings as they age. &nbsp;Most importantly, they charge less than specialists and the ER. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />That primary care reduces costs is important for Massachusetts. &nbsp;The state is entering the next phase of its reforms by focusing on healthcare spending. &nbsp;It does so as healthcare costs comprise 41% of its fiscal year 2013 budget. &nbsp;To contain costs, the legislature is taking up various bills that shifts the state toward global (flat fees) rather than current fee-for-service payments. <br /><br />So what's the connection between primary care, fiscal reforms to the Massachusetts budget and chronic disease? &nbsp;The answer is everything. While healthier people need access to preventive care, too, the chronically ill use the system more frequently no matter its shortcomings now. New fiscal reforms that boost access to primary care would implement an immediately useful policy that removes a significant barrier to better disease management. <br /><br /><br />CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-3679571689941994552012-04-29T12:58:00.000-04:002012-05-03T19:31:07.293-04:00Strong Industry Oversight Key to Healthcare Overhaul's Success<br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">CareShare Network cannot say whether the new healthcare law is the antidote for the US’ healthcare woes. However, we hope the system will provide recourse for individuals with ongoing medical conditions when they are in conflict with their insurers over their care.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In 2007, the CareShare Network blog featured the story of a woman who had appeared on&nbsp;<i>Good Morning America</i>.&nbsp; She was living with a rare condition. In spite of her personal entreaties and letters of support from her doctors, her insurance provider would not cover the only medication capable of helping her.<br /><br />Even with&nbsp;<i>Good Morning America’s&nbsp;</i>national spotlight on its policies, the insurer stood firm unwilling to reverse its decision. The woman was frustrated and baffled that one entity could hold such power over her life and health. &nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In cases where doctors recommend one treatment and the insurer denies coverage, under the new law, will a strong third party oversee the appeals process? <br /><br />Currently, a version of this arbitration process exists.&nbsp; When private insurers make a decision patients believe is wrong, patients have the right to appeal.&nbsp; Unfortunately, an appeal often ends in insurers affirming their own decisions:&nbsp; The insurer claims their internal, impartial medical teams further reviewed its decision -- and approves of it.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">These reviews can go as far as a state appeal board. &nbsp;Some patients follow the process through its end at the state level. Others give up, exhausted and depleted at the thought of facing yet another battle with an uncertain outcome.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Our reason for recounting this story of old is to stress the need for an official, independent and strong appeal system implemented to protect patient consumers under the healthcare law. Otherwise, the national insurance mandate becomes a boon for private insurers, leaving consumers trapped between accepting inadequate private plans and no viable alternative when they fail them.</div>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6251395263566849098.post-6654319637211658362012-04-29T12:55:00.001-04:002012-04-29T12:55:44.043-04:00Healthcare Reform Law Overview<br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">What to think and what to do?&nbsp; As the nation awaits the Supreme&nbsp;Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform&nbsp;bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Pres. Obama on March 23, 2010, CareShare Network looks at what’s at stake in the challenges to the law. &nbsp;We also take a look at the changes the law will implement.<br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c3612; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div>According to the&nbsp;<i>N</i><i>ew Y</i><i>ork Times&nbsp;</i>in “Health Care Reform &nbsp;and the Supreme Court (Affordable Care Act),” the challenges to the healthcare law&nbsp;hinge primarily on&nbsp;the individual health insurance mandate, which will require US residents to either purchase coverage or pay a penalty.&nbsp; Assessments for penalties will begin in 2014 to be paid through 2015 tax returns. The government argues that the compulsory component of the law must stand because insurers will only provide coverage to all applicants without regard for preexisting medical conditions because of the mandate.&nbsp;</div><div><br />The Supreme Court is addressing three other questions:<br /><ol><li>Should the court wait for the penalty to be levied in 2014 and paid in 2015 before considering any lawsuits?</li><li>What other parts of the law should be upheld or discarded if the Court strikes down the mandate?</li><li>Can the federal government require the states to expand their Medicaid rolls by raising the eligibility thresholds in order to offer health insurance coverage to more low-income families? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ol>With the aim of providing coverage access to the 49 million US residents without health insurance coverage at all, the law will also assess a penalty on large employers that do not offer health insurance and provide tax credits to smaller ones, compelling or incentivizing them into coverage provision for their employees.<br /><br />It also creates health exchanges for individuals who must purchase policies in the individual market. The exchanges will provide information on private insurance options.&nbsp; Some individuals will&nbsp;receive subsidies based on their income levels to purchase policies available in the individual market through the exchanges.&nbsp;</div></div>CareShare Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442722744620658512noreply@blogger.com91